Billions of years have changed the Earth. Hot molten rock and deadly poison gas slowly gave way to cooler temperatures, water, and breathable air. Brilliantly colored illustrations spilling across two-page spreads trace the history of the planet as small sea creatures appear, then land animals, and, a long time later, humans. Rendered in ink, collage, and digital media, the pictures have a slightly surrealistic quality to them that contributes to an overall tone of wonder at what has transpired. The book works on several levels. With a simple, poetic text, it is entertaining and visually appealing enough to hold the attention of younger readers. The "Look Again" section at the end offers a chance to revisit each spread, focusing on the scientific concepts at a higher level. Finally, a glossary, author's note, and list of sources provides an opportunity for building on the basic information. Beautiful and thought-provoking, this nonfiction picture book has a great deal to offer. Pair it with Jason Chin's Island: A Story of the Galápagos (2012) for even more context.

This book's poetic text aims to trace a big concept: Earth's formation and the evolution of life through billions of years to the present day. Cosmic collisions, volcanic explosions, and the emergence of living creatures are rendered in wild and vibrant ink, collage, and digital art. The final spread includes thumbnails and further explanations of the action depicted in prior spreads. Websites. Bib., glos.

Over billions of years of history, Earth has undergone amazing changes.With a lyrical text and 16 illustrations bleeding across each spread, this picture book surveys the immense stretch of time between the formation of the Earth and the heavily populated planet we know today. Gladstone's free-verse poem describes stages: lifeless molten rock and poison gas; mountains forming; rain filling the oceans; life beginning as "mats of slimy green" and "mounds of strange rock"; oxygen filling the air; life evolving in the oceans and then on land; species living, thriving, and dying; until, finally, the species we know today appear, including "people like you and me." Concluding that "human life is a speck in time in the history of old Earth," the author reminds readers that Earth is "greener and bluer, / more comfortable and much cooler" than it was billions of years ago when it was new. A final spread repeats all the illustrations as thumbnails, asking readers to look again for specific details the painter included. Created using a mix of ink, collage, and digital media, Diemert's images are allusive and striking. The text is set on a band of color that matches the dominant color of each painting. The narrative, though simple, is relatively accurate, reflecting current scientific thinking. A dramatic demonstration of geologic time for thoughtful readers and listeners. (glossary, author's note, sources) (Informational picture book. 5-10)

Debut talents Gladstone and Diemert neatly distill a complex concept-the sheer vastness of Earth-s history, and how it evolved over billions of years-using evocative, conversational language and bold mixed-media artwork. The text grabs readers from the start, describing the planet billions of years ago, devoid of life: -You could not walk on the searing-hot molten rock that flowed there... or breathe the deadly poison gas that swirled there. Nothing could.- A purposefully vague timeline and streamlined explanations lend a simple, poetic presence to each page (-A sky full of water vapor poured down as rain. For millions and millions and millions of years, it rained. The rain formed huge oceans-). Washed in a rainbow of neon colors, Diemert-s inventive portrayals of nearly unfathomable times-a molten-red Earth assailed by meteors, marbled undersea rock formations, long-vanished species-will spark readers- imaginings of a nascent Earth. (-Human life is a speck in time in the history of old Earth,- Gladstone notes.) A concluding -Look Again- section reproduces the 18 illustrations in miniature and provides details about the eras they represent. Ages 4-up. (Sept.)

Gr 1-3Beginning with the formation of Earth millions of years ago, this work introduces the concept of evolution in a picture book format. Simple text describes Earth's slow progression from a lifeless, hot, and gaseous place, hostile to living things, to a land of mountains, oceans, and early life-forms. Creatures of the seas, skies, and land either evolved or became extinct. The narrative emphasizes that our planet will continue to transform. Striking, slightly surreal illustrations complement the prose and offer much to contemplate, from an Earth covered in molten rock to a present-day city. The "Look Again" section offers readers a second chance to find more subtle details in the artwork. VERDICT A broad overview of the evolution of our planet, and a fine addition to science collections.Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY